/ food-oil-to-saf-japan-first-large-scale-facility-unveiled?galley=1
Japan has announced plans to convert food waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at a large-scale facility, located in the city of Kobe. This will be the first such facility in the country, and it is expected to process 100,000 metric tons of food waste per year, enough to power around 450 flights between Tokyo and New York. The project is a significant step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation industry, which is a major contributor to climate change.

The facility, which is being developed by a consortium of companies including Japan's largest supermarket chain, Aeon, will use a process called gasification to convert food waste into a synthetic gas, which can then be converted into SAF. The gasification process involves heating the food waste in the absence of oxygen to produce a syngas, which is then cleaned and purified to produce the SAF.

The SAF produced at the facility will be used to power aircraft at Kobe Airport, as well as at other airports in the region. The facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2023, and it is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation industry by around 200,000 metric tons per year.

The project is part of Japan's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. The country has set ambitious targets to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and the aviation industry is a key area of focus. By converting food waste into SAF, Japan is not only reducing emissions from aviation, but also reducing waste and creating a new source of renewable energy.

The success of the project in Kobe could pave the way for similar facilities to be built in other parts of the country and around the world. As the aviation industry continues to grow, the need for sustainable and low-carbon fuels is becoming increasingly important. The development of SAF is expected to play a key role in reducing emissions from aviation and helping the industry achieve its sustainability goals.